The founder of a charity has threatened to “relentlessly hunt down” those responsible for vandalising a monument to a First World War airfield.
Kenneth Bannerman, director general of the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust, expressed shock at the damage to the Rye Airfield memorial, which commemorates a landing ground in Rye used during the war to counter German Zepplin airships.
He said: “I am absolutely horrified and disgusted, as are many other people from across Britain, to hear of the savage destruction of the Rye Airfield memorial plaque.
“Rye Airfield was and always will be a real force for good, and to see how this memorial we created and supplied has been treated is utterly disgraceful.
“Such is the ferocity of this attack that it looks as if this may be more than sheer mindless vandalism.”
Mr Bannerman also said that some have suggested that the incident could have been “some form of deliberate and criminal activism”.
He said: “Someone, whether family, friends or acquaintances, must know who carried out this despicable act.
“Whoever is responsible will be relentlessly hunted down - you will be found.”
In an effort to try and find the perpetrators, the charity is offering “an extremely substantial reward” for any information until November 28.
Officers are urging anyone with information to contact police, quoting reference 0540 22/11/2022.
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